Kohberger's Lawyers Warned the Judge About WHAT?!

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

This is The Big Breakdown, a long look back at some of the biggest stories we're covering for you at the Hidden Killers Podcast and True Crime Today. This is Hidden Killers Live with Tony Brueski and Robin Drake.

Tony Brueski (0:16)

Let's move over to another one, Bryan Kohberger. Oh, it's been a fun summer vacation with Bryan, hasn't it? He filed a handwritten petition to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming he was pressured into a confection and is actually innocent. Now his family has decided to step directly in the fray, releasing an exclusive statement to ABC News, completely backing his push for a new trial. Here is the full text of the letter, because I think it's fair that we read it exactly as is. Our full support of Bryan's decision to pursue post-conviction relief does not come from a place of disregard. We have no wish to compound the unimaginable grief the families have borne so courageously. It almost sounds like it was written by Bryan. Rather, it comes from our family's need to see that the complete and unvarnished truth is told. Like everyone, we seek answers to all the questions that have been raised, which can only be addressed through a proper trial as opposed to an improper plea. As a family, we continue to carry the victims, their families and the entire Moscow community in our hearts in daily prayer. We continue to love and support Bryan, and we continue to respect the memory of those lost. We seek to find justice and a conclusive resolution through the legal process. Notice I didn't say who they were praying to. I'm wondering if it was up or down. I think that's the mystery question.

What the hell?

Why throw your hat in the ring here? I get supporting your child, but your child, Bryan Kohberger, you can, there's a lot of ways you can support if this is so your choice that you want to be behind him, but you don't necessarily need to write a letter to ABC News doing it. That sounds like it might have been written by Bryan and then passed along to the ghost of Peter Jennings. I mean, what the hell is that letter about when you read it?

Shavaun Scott (2:15)

It would be lovely to have a conversation with them, right? And to try to get to the bottom of this.

What is the thinking process? It strikes me as desperation and emotionally driven from the family to just not believe that their beloved son could do what all evidence has indicated, which he's confessed to, that he did. And we've talked about when is it denial? When is it a delusion? I think it's intense denial. A delusion would be if they said something like, well, Bryan has, he's a werewolf and the moon was full.

Tony Brueski (3:00)

That's next week.

Shavaun Scott (3:01)

Yeah.

Robin Drake (3:02)

That's Halloween season. That's why he was out in the middle of the night.

Shavaun Scott (3:05)

That's why he was out in the middle of the night.

Tony Brueski (3:07)

He's Dean Wolf.

Shavaun Scott (3:08)

This came over him and that condition, he's no longer a werewolf, that condition has been cured. And if they really believe that, we'd say, okay, that's psychotic. That is definitely a delusion. But the denial, people are really talented at it, unfortunately, at just not seeing what's right in front of them when the emotional cost of seeing it is devastating. And this would be devastating.

Tony Brueski (3:32)

He admitted to it. They got it. I mean, I'm just baffled. Like, go ahead, Robin.

Robin Drake (3:39)

I think Broken Plea, that book, has become that family's Bible that they want to rest on. And so when you ask, so what would be the impetus to go into NBC or ABC with this?

Well, why would you put yourself out there? Well, we do know that there's a lot of pro-burgers out there. And if you're looking for your son to appeal something, you need money. I think this is a GoFundMe campaign, getting ready to go.

Shavaun Scott (4:05)

Good point.

Tony Brueski (4:06)

Interesting.

Robin Drake (4:07)

I mean, they're gonna need money. And if they think, if these pro-burgers think that the family's behind them and they have a shot because they have their Bible of broken plea, then they can start collecting money.

Tony Brueski (4:22)

Is, psychologically speaking here, I can't imagine being Kohberger's parents or his sisters. I mean, so that's number one. So it's hard to give conjecture that's gonna be super accurate because none of us know what the hell that feels like to have that as your son or your sibling.